The #1 Ride Mistake People Make Over and Over Again in Disney World

A trip to Disney World can be pretty overwhelming.

Welcome to Walt Disney World!

That is why we are here to help you learn from our mistakes as well as give you plenty of tips and tricks to make your next trip to Disney World a success! We want you to be able to ride as many rides as possible, but take it from us: do not make this Disney World mistake when making your ride game plan.

Going into the parks with a game plan is always a smart idea. This way, you know what everyone’s must-dos are, making it easier to map out your day and make sure everyone gets to experience something that they want to.

Slinky Dog Dash

Throw Out Your Game Plan – Your Old Disney World Itineraries Are Officially OBSOLETE

There are a few ways that you can get some extra park time beyond regular park hours! The first is by staying at a Disney World hotel. All guests of Disney World hotels are able to participate in Early Theme Park Entry, regardless of whether you are staying at a Value, Moderate, or Deluxe Resort.

Early Theme Park Entry

Each day, all four of the parks open 30 minutes early to allow resort guests some extra time in the parks before they open to the general public. While 30 minutes may not seem like a lot, you can squeeze in an extra ride or two, as lines can be shorter during this period. Do note that the entire park isn’t usually open during early entry.

Early Theme Park Entry Sign

If you are not staying at a Disney World resort, you can still Rope Drop the park. Before the park officially opens, there is a rope that blocks off part of the park. When the park opens, the rope literally drops to allow visitors to start to make their way over to different attractions.

Early morning Rope Dropping crowds at Hollywood Studios

This is also a great strategy to get in as much park time as possible, but be warned! Not every ride is open during Early Theme Park Entry and Rope Drop. So, when you make your plan, make sure to double-check that the ride will be operating in these early morning hours.

TRON is not open during Early Theme Park Entry

Sometimes, rides just need a little extra time to wake up in the morning, so they do not always open right away. So, for those rides, make sure to keep them towards the middle of your game plan.

The Beauty and the Beast Sing Along has been removed from EPCOT’s Early Theme Park Entry

This same rule applies for Extended Evening Hours, a perk for Deluxe Resorts and other select resort guests. Extended Evening Hours are offered in select parks on select nights during the week. The parks stay open for an extra two hours. During this time, you can expect short wait times. This perk is great for getting in extra rides and saving attractions that tend to have longer waits until the end of the day.

Extended Evening Hours at Animal Kingdom

EVERY SINGLE Attraction Confirmed for Disney World Extended Evening Hours at Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom

But just like in the morning, not every attraction is offered during extended evening hours, so make sure to ride any attractions that are closed for these two hours BEFORE the park officially closes to the general public.

EPCOT at night

Early Theme Park Entry, Rope Drop, and Extended Evening Hours are all great ways to squeeze in extra park time and ride more attractions; just make sure to research beforehand and make a game plan since certain attractions are not offered during these periods. Make sure to download the My Disney Experience app before your trip to see which attractions are open at what time.